Disclaimer: I do not own Rumiko Takahashi's Inuyasha. :[
Oh, la la! Thank you all for being so wonderful and forthcoming with your reviews! I really never thought my story would get very popular, haha. But, I am extremely pleased, thanks to you, dear readers; and that usually will start a fire under any author. I'll be happy to update as soon as I can.
3KuwaiiEmmieChan. :]
THE STUFF.
Chapter Four.
As they began their trek away from the village, the sun rising at their backs, no one seemed to be in a very cheery mood. Inuyasha was tense, shorter with them than usual, leading them off into the wilderness. The humans were actually struggling to keep up with him so early in the morning; Kagome especially, having not rested very well the night before.
"Why do we have to head out so early…?" Shippo whined, rubbing his eye with the back of his fist. He looked over at the tired and grumbling Kagome, and decided against hitching a ride on her shoulders; instead he leapt up onto Miroku who barely spared him a glance.
The shard-hunting party was so preoccupied by Inuyasha's ground-eating pace; they didn't even realize it was after noon until someone's stomach growled loudly enough for all to hear.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo called to their leader. "Let's stop for lunch!"
The inu-hanyou ignored him, and seemed to pick up the pace. Kagome looked at his back, giving a loudly exasperated sigh. She dropped her large, heavy yellow bag onto the ground, and her companions followed her lead- dropping for a rest on the cool grass.
"Inuyasha." Kagome said shortly.
He seemed to flinch, stopping to turn and look at her. When his eyes met hers, she swallowed hard, her stomach suddenly filling with butterflies at his heated look. Her heart began to race as his gaze darkened into something that stirred her blood, but she tried to ignore her body's reaction to him.
"We need to stop for lunch," she said breathlessly.
He grinned at her, making his way back to where their companions were setting up a fire. His expression was hard to decipher, but the smile he was sending her way was making her mind run in over-drive, making her wonder what he was thinking. Once he reached her, he moved in close. Closer than usual, his body heat radiating off of him in waves, and Kagome felt her knees get weak.
"Are you hungry, Kagome?" He asked, his voice a dark rumble.
She stared up into his face, her eyes wide, her breathing growing heavy through her parted lips. There was this electric charge between them, making her tremble, and all her blood seemed to rush to the apex of her thighs. He took a deep breath through his nose, his pupils dilating, almost eclipsing the gold that she's come to love. She knew he could smell her. His expression changed and she realized that they both knew exactly what was going on. She blushed.
"Yes," she whispered.
"What are we gonna make, Kagome?" Shippo's voice chirped from somewhere near her knees. She sighed, a frown marring her features from the unwanted distraction. Inuyasha's brow quirked at her, and he gave her a this-isn't-over-Kagome look that she couldn't help but get excited about.
She looked down at Shippo, a small smile tugging on her lips as she felt Inuyasha retreat into a sitting position near her yellow bag, beginning to rifle through it. "I'm sure we'll find something in my bag, Shippo," she replied kindly.
Sango tried to school her face into an impassive expression, trying to hide her surprise after Miroku nudged her, his own face shining with his amusement. He didn't know what was going on either, but being the hentai that he was, he was definitely enjoying the show.
It was getting dark.
The shard-hunting party was moving clumsily through the underbrush and thick tree trunks. It was hard enough to see though the foliage in the daylight, but now that the sun was setting, the dense darkness was falling rapidly, making it even harder to navigate.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called up ahead of them. They had only been able to catch glimpses of the hanyou since they'd entered the foreboding forest, visibility being as sparse as it was. "We can't see where we're going! We need to stop for the night!"
Inuyasha's voice made it's way back to them. "There's a stream up ahead, no more than half an hour." He sounded… smug? "We'll stop and make camp there."
The humans breathed a sigh of relief, continuing their tortuous journey through the growth of the forest. Inuyasha had found the water source long ago, and was now watching his companions from the tree-tops above. Kagome was falling further and farther behind, trying in vain to keep up with her friends. He grinned, a fang poking out from beneath his lip.
This was his plan.
How else could he get Kagome alone with no one realizing it?
His smile widened. Not even her. He sat back on his heels, waiting for the perfect opportunity…
To say she was mad was putting it lightly. How dare he make them travel through this stupid dark forest so late in the day? They should have stopped on the outskirts and waited for the morning sun. But, No! Not Inuyasha! Why would he want to take his companions into account and think about someone other than himself for once?! She scoffed, her eyes glued to the floor so she wouldn't trip.
She suddenly had a strange feeling of being watched. Her head snapped up, staring wildly about, trying to distinguish shadows from… shadows. Panic slowly started to grip her as she finally took notice of her friends no longer being in her sights.
"Sango…? Miroku…?" She called their names, but there was no response and fear began to climb up her spine. She took a shaky step forward, then another- soon she was running through the underbrush, spurred by her fright and panic. Her ankle caught on something very solid, and the ground rushed up to meet her. She squeezed her eyes shut, readying for impact, but let out a surprised squeak when strong hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her out of her fall.
She was suddenly pushed up against a strong, broad chest, muscled arms supporting her as she regained her equilibrium. She swallowed, her body reacting to his before she even realized who it was. She looked up into Inuyasha's face, surprised again at how close his face was to hers. His eyes glowed slightly in the dark as he drank in her features. She licked her lips, and his gaze stopped there.
"Inuyasha…" She breathed, a grateful smile tugging on her lips. "Oh, thank you…" Her voice trailed off as he pulled her closer, pushing his nose into her hair and inhaling deeply.
"Kagome," he rumbled quietly, vibrating through her whole person, spearing heat straight to her groin. He inhaled her scent again and a soft growl escaped his lips. "You smell so fucking good." She shuddered at the longing in his voice, her knees growing weaker as his hands began to travel over her back and arms.
He suddenly pushed her up against a hefty tree-trunk, capturing both her hands and pinning them above her; his hips holding her in place. She gasped when she felt his erection hard against her stomach. He gazed down at her, a fang poking out of his dead-sexy half smile.
He grasped her chin with his free hand, pulling it up to meet his mouth. He brushed her lips with his, a light touch. He pulled away, licking his lips, his smile gone. "You taste good, too, Kagome," he whispered, moving his face to hers again. This kiss was just as soft, lingering… she couldn't help responding to him, pressing herself closer. He growled and his lips became more urgent, his tongue pushing past her lips, invading her mouth and caressing her own.
She couldn't suppress the moan from deep in her throat, and she felt him smile against her lips. "I want you, Kagome," he rasped out, his breathing harsh. "And, from the way that you smell…" He inhaled deeply, his voice harder. "You want me, too." He kissed her roughly again, his free hand growing bold and molding against her breast. Her body bowed against the trunk, pushing herself more firmly into his hand. She whimpered as he pulled his mouth away; she was so hot and bothered, she wanted more of him.
He dipped his head and began trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her neck, licking and suckling her pulse point; he scraped his fangs across her clavicle, enjoying the way she was squirming deliciously against him.
"Oh, Inuyasha," she didn't even recognize her voice; it was so high and needy. He flexed his hips against her as he nipped her breast through her shirt and she cried out, the scent of her arousal spiking and almost unraveling him right then. He released her hands, moving his own to the hem of her shirt to pull it off her; but she surprised him by stilling his hands with her own.
His eyes shot up to hers, questioning, wondering if he'd gone too far.
"I sense a jewel shard." She said, dread lacing her voice. He frowned. "And it's coming fast… Really fast."
He stood up straight, gazing down at her, wanting and needing him, and he cursed his horrible luck.
Fucking Koga.
